Yes Sir, Yes Sir Three Bags Full

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Look at that cute face!

In case you are wondering, I have not forgotten that I am supposed to be getting up the storefront for those lovely sea goddesses and mermaids that are sitting in a box underneath my work table. I have several new designs and I must say they are looking great! It’s a bit of an addiction sometimes, sitting with needle in hand, poking wool and bits of beautiful fabric, adding beads and jewels, and having a personality come to life in my hands. But no trip down the addiction turnpike is complete without spending hundreds of hours researching the best places to buy supplies. So with that in mind, today I took a field trip out to Stargazer Alpacas in Spanaway, Washington. What fun!

Stargazer Alpacas, owned by my friend Tina Bars and her husband Gvido, is in the business of breeding these cute and cuddly animals to the highest standard, and in sheering them. Thus: Wool! And not just any wool. Bags and bags of soft and silky, unrefined wool in a range of beautiful colors from cream to black. I came away with two bags of this lovely stuff, just waiting at the work table until I get back from my Utah vacation. I’m going to experiment with using it for stuffing the dolls, and maybe even dyeing it with vegetable dyes. It’s a whole world of playing with ‘stuff’!  I can’t wait. (Yes, I know I am supposed to be getting rid of ‘stuff’. Don’t hassle me about this, okay? I’m filled with creative fervor here.)

In addition to being able to meet and greet the alpacas, I was pleasantly surprised to find some honest to goodness goings-on going on at the ranch! Tina and Gvido had Gina Martin and Kelly Cronn there working with the alpacas, checking to see if a few of the females were pregnant. And they were using ultrasound! Now, ladies, if you’ve ever had an ‘annual’ exam, you might want to sit down before looking at a couple of these photos. Suffice to say, I am glad not to be an alpaca, although the animals accepted this with more grace than I would have. It was fascinating to watch, and I got to see a baby alpaca on the ultrasound screen! Now, many people might not be excited about this, but I totally was. I’m not a farm or ranch girl, so these things are fascinating to me. Also, who knew there was such thing as pink camo overalls? They are cute as can be!

There is a baby alpaca on the screen. See it? Sure you do! You are looking right at it!

Gina Martin knows what she is doing with that wand! Apparently this does not hurt a bit, because the alpaca does not protest. Kelly Cronn handles the other end.

Gina thought this girl was not pregnant, so she tested it with one of the studs of the farm. Whoa! Turns out she was receptive, so Gina was right.

A piece of carrot as a peace offering. It made this little girl feel better about being man handled.

Tina hugs one of her babies and speaks soothingly while nails are clipped.

These are the most alert and curious animals! They watch everything, standing in little clusters

Hey, Tina and Gvido, I'm pretty sure alpacas can't read. But maybe that's why do tend to spit when stressed! They don't know what the sign says.

I just love being able to go right to the source for the wool I’m using for my dolls. It’s cool to meet the actual animals who grew the wool and to know the people who care for and love those animals. Tina and Gvido know each and every animal of their herd by name and you can see how much affection they have for these sweet beings. I have wool from Kandace and from Santiago. So to them I say, ‘Thanks cute little alpacas! Keep up the good growing! I’ll be back for more, I’m sure.’ If you know people who are into fiber arts and use wool in their crafts, I can give you the contact information for Stargazer Alpacas. They don’t yet have a website, but when they do, I’ll be posting it here! Thanks for letting my come and explore, Tina and Gvido!

 

 

 

 

Now, to get ready for the Utah trip! Woo hoo!! Desert hiking here we come!

 

 

The Westerly 39

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S/V Spellbound

Today we saw a boat that is sure to end up on our short list. It’s a 1985 Westerly ‘Sealord’ 39.  I’ve been waiting to see this boat for months and can’t believe it hasn’t yet sold. If the name of the boat could sell the boat, we’d buy this one. The name is ‘Spellbound’, a name which perfectly captures how I feel so many times when we’re out on our boat. If we bought this boat, we’d leave the name as is.

Interestingly, there is an old Island Trader (I think) with the same name docked at our marina. I have always been interested in that boat. It was for sale, but it had be i en neglected for so many years that it needed just about everything. Still, the name of that big yellow boat, and it’s little yellow dingy, ‘Little Misspell’, attracted me. Last summer, tired of being curious, I kayaked over to the boat and climbed out on the dock so I could peak through the ports. I believe that was when I first fell for the ‘heavy teak interior’ look. It might not sail well in light wind, but it sure makes a nice cabin.  I still wonder about the stories that boat could tell. But I’m digressing.

Anyway, we really liked this boat. Now we just need to get Moonrise sold so we can move this process forward. I turn this over to the Universe, knowing that Moonrise will sell at the right time, and that the perfect boat will be available for us when that happens. It’s just nice to see a boat that gives us visions of a future living aboard and sailing.

For a further review of the boat, go here to our boat reviews page and scroll down to the last boat. This one is just below that Cal 39 we looked at, which is also still on our short list. Now we just need to get ourselves up to Vancouver and look at the Spencer 1330 that has been for sale up there for months. Of course, that would probably confuse me and give me too many boat options. I will take the chance.

Used Car Parking Lot

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Wish I could say my car ever looked this good. Maybe before Andrew learned to drive, and before he pulled one of the door handles off.

We’re making headway! We might not have the right boat yet, but we’re already getting rid of cars, and thank goodness! People were thinking our place was a used car lot. Mike and I both had cars, and both kids have cars, plus we store our friend’s big honkin’ truck at our place because it’s better for him, and we can then use it when we need to. That’s 5 cars, with only 3 people living in the house. The only up side to that is that it always looks like someone is at home.

So today we sold my 2000 Mazda MPV.

This car was a true suburban ‘mom’ car. I toted my kids and their friends in that car. I hauled plants, furniture, and carloads of groceries in that car. We took family trips in the car, with the middle seats removed so the kids could stretch their legs out.  It was an excellent car in every respect in that it expected little from me, and gave me a lot in return. The engine remains strong to this day. I’d say that car was a good investment when you factor in all the use we’ve had from it in the 8 years we’ve owned it.

We sold it to a nice young couple with a little 3 year old girl, and another little girl on the way at the end of March. They need a van for their growing family, and we needed money for our cruising kitty. I feel good about their getting my car, knowing that it will make this young mom’s life a little easier having a car large enough to tote children and groceries, and all the other things young moms tote around.

So we just made a nice little deposit into the cruising kitty! That feels like progress to us.